Person:
Álvarez Vásquez, José Luis

Birth Date

1977-02-09

ORCID

0000-0003-0381-2402

Scopus Author ID

35101299300

Afiliación

Universidad de Cuenca, Cuenca, Ecuador
Universidad de Cuenca, Facultad de Odontología, Cuenca, Ecuador

País

Ecuador

Organizational Units

Organizational Unit

Facultad de Odontología

La Facultad de Odontología se estableció en 1958, es la unidad académica responsable de la carrera que lleva el mismo nombre y que desarrolla actividades de docencia, investigación y de servicio comunitario, en modalidad presencial y con duración de 10 ciclos. Las actividades académicas descritas en el plan de carrera y matriz curricular se desempeñan en aulas, laboratorios y clínicas, modernamente equipadas acorde a los avances tecnológicos y a las exigencias de los organismos de control.

Job Title

Profesor (T)

Last Name

Álvarez Vásquez

First Name

José Luis

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Search Results

Now showing 1 - 10 of 14

Dental pulp fibroblast: a star cell
(2022) Castañeda Alvarado, Cristina Paola; Álvarez Vásquez, José Luis
Introduction Dental pulp fibroblasts (DPF) are the most abundant cell type in the dental pulp. They play pivotal roles; however, they are often mistaken to be involved only in the repair and maintenance of this connective tissue. Methods We used the search terms “pulp fibroblast,” “complement system proteins,” “pulp inflammation,” “angiogenesis,” and “dentin pulp regeneration” to identify articles from the PubMed and Scopus databases. Result These sentinel cells produce all complement system proteins participating in defense processes, control of inflammation, and dentin-pulp regeneration; produce several proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines and express pattern-recognition receptors, demonstrating their involvement in immunoregulatory mechanisms; express neuropeptides and their receptors, playing an important role in neurogenic inflammation and dental pulp wound healing; secrete angiogenic growth factors as well as neurotrophic proteins, essential for dentin-pulp regeneration; regulate neuronal plasticity processes; and can sense the external environment. Conclusion This review highlights that DPFs are more than mere passive cells in pulp biology and presents an integrative analysis of their roles and functions.
Adipokines in dental pulp: physiological, pathological, and potential therapeutic roles
(2021) Gavidia Pazmiño, Jonathan Francisco; Intriago Morales, Ruth Viviana; Bravo Guapisaca, Maria Isabel; Álvarez Vásquez, José Luis
Background: Hundreds of adipokines have been identified, and their extensive range of endocrine functions- regulating distant organs such as oral tissues- and local autocrine/paracrine roles have been studied. In dentistry, however, adipokines are poorly known proteins in the dental pulp; few of them have been studied despite their large number. This study reviews recent advances in the investigation of dental-pulp adipokines, with an emphasis on their roles in inflammatory processes and their potential therapeutic applications. Highlights: The most recently identified adipokines in dental pulp include leptin, adiponectin, resistin, ghrelin, oncostatin, chemerin, and visfatin. They have numerous physiological and pathological functions in the pulp tissue: they are closely related to pulp inflammatory mechanisms and actively participate in cell differentiation, mineralization, angiogenesis, and immune-system modulation. Conclusion: Adipokines have potential clinical applications in regenerative endodontics and as biomarkers or targets for the pharmacological management of inflammatory and degenerative processes in dental pulp. A promising direction for the development of new therapies may be the use of agonists/antagonists to modulate the expression of the most studied adipokines.
Exploring the Painless Nature and Potential Mechanisms of Asymptomatic Irreversible Pulpitis: A Narrative Review
(2024) Cabrera Abad, Daniela Paola; Jara Vergara, Verónica Cristina; Álvarez Vásquez, José Luis
Background: Considering the extensive innervation of the pulp tissue, asymptomatic irreversible pulpitis (AIP) or “silent pulpitis” represents a confounding clinical condition. Previous studies have attributed the painless nature of AIP to the inhibition of pulpal nociceptors by local endogenous analgesics. However, there is a lack of recent information concerning its painless nature, and paradoxically, patients with dental pain are diagnosed with AIP daily worldwide. In addition, no recent review has explored the potential AIP-related mechanisms. Objective: This narrative review aims to explore and update the potential mechanisms involved in the painless nature of AIP to improve our current understanding of the asymptomatic character of this clinical condition. Methods: An electronic search was performed in the PubMed and Scopus databases, using as search terms “asymptomatic irreversible pulpitis,” “dental pulp,” “endogenous opioids,” “endogenous cannabinoids,” “somatostatin,” “GABA,” “bombesin,” “cortistatin,” “galanin,” and “specialized pro-resolving lipid mediators.” Results: Endogenous opioids, G protein-activated inwardly rectifying K + channels, endogenous cannabinoids, γ-aminobutyric acid, and neuropeptides (i.e. somatostatin, cortistatin, galanin, and bombesin) could be involved in AIP-related analgesia. Additionally, specialized pro-resolving lipid mediators, such as lipoxins, resolvins, maresins, and protectins, as well as oxytocin, phoenixin, opiorphin, and adipokines, could also be involved in this clinical condition. Conclusion: This narrative review provides updated information on the potentially involved mechanisms in AIP. Nevertheless, the precise mechanisms responsible for the lack of symptoms in AIP remain to be elucidated, and further research is warranted.
Global use of ethnomedicinal plants to treat toothache
(2022) Saavedra Cornejo, Gabriela Elizabeth; Álvarez Vásquez, José Luis; Parra Solano, Nathaly Fernanda; Espinosa Vasquez, Ximena Elizabeth
Toothache is one of the most common global health problems, and medicinal plants are widely used to relieve the associated pain and inflammation. Several studies have been conducted on the use of plants to treat toothache, but no study has comprehensively assessed the types of plants and the mechanisms of action of the phytochemical compounds involved in their analgesic effect. This review aims to bridge this gap. This is the first review to collect a large volume of data on the global use of medicinal plants used in the treatment of toothache. It presents the relevant information for dentists, researchers, and academics on using medicinal plants to treat toothache. We found that preclinical studies and state-of-the-art technology hold promise for furthering our knowledge of this important topic. In total, 21 species of medicinal plants used to treat toothache were found in America, 29 in Europe, 192 in Africa, 112 in Asia, and 10 in Oceania. The most common species were Allium sativum, Allium cepa, Acmella oleracea, Jatropha curcas, Jatropha gossypiifolia, and Syzygium aromaticum. The most commonly found family of medicinal plants was Asteraceae, followed by Solanaceae, Fabaceae, Lamiaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Rutaceae, and Myrtaceae. The most common phytochemicals found were flavonoids, terpenes, polyphenols, and alkaloids. The reported mechanisms of action involved in toothache analgesia were antioxidant effects, effects mediated by transient receptor potential channels, the γ-aminobutyric acid mechanism, and the cyclooxygenase/lipoxygenase anti-inflammatory mechanism.
Anestesia dental local sin aguja: una revisión integrativa de la literatura
(2021) Alvarez Sarmiento, Jessica Paola; Ruiz Proaño, Andrea Jhoanna; Álvarez Vásquez, José Luis
Elaboración de un biodiente: enfoque actual y desafíos
(2018) Intriago Morales, Ruth Viviana; Álvarez Vásquez, José Luis
Background: Edentulism is one of the major oral health problems that cause physiological, social,aesthetic, phonetic, and nutritional issues. Current therapies for dental replacement are artificial and do not satisfy the basic requirements of a natural tooth. Tissue bioengineering could be a viable alternative to substitute lost teeth. Objective: To identify current available approaches/techniques to obtain a complete bioengineered tooth (bio-tooth) and to point out future challenges and perspectives. Methods: This was an integrative literature review. Search keywords used were: bio-tooth, tissue bioengineering, whole tooth, stem cells. The search included the years 2000 through 2018, using the databases PubMed, Scopus, EBSCO, Science Direct, Wiley Online Library, Lilacs and Google Scholar, both in English and Spanish. Only relevant and pertinent articles and books were selected. Results: 53 articles and 10 books were obtained. Methods for bio-tooth generation found were: scaffolds, scaffold-free, induced pluripotent stem cells, tooth organ germ, chimeric tooth, and stimulation of third dentition formation. Achieving normal tooth size and shape and obtaining epithelial cells are the main challenges. Conclusions: The possibility of creating and developing a whole bioengineered tooth (bio-tooth) in an adult oral environment is becoming more realistic, considering the daily biotechnological advances. It is possible that these concepts will be the basis of restorative dentistry in a near future.
Resolvinas: blancos terapéuticos emergentes para el tratamiento del dolor y la inflamación
(2014) Álvarez Vásquez, José Luis
Las resolvinas son agentes lipídicos producidos de manera endógena por el propio organismo, las cuales participan de manera muy activa en lafase de resolución del proceso inflamatorio. La literatura disponible ha evidenciado de manera fehaciente sus eminentes propiedades antiinflamatorias y analgésicas, por lo que las resolvinas se proyectan comoagentes terapéuticos emergentes para el tratamiento de algunos desórdenes sistémicos y patologías de la cavidad oral que cursan con cuadros inflamatorios acompañados de dolor, como las afecciones pulpares y/o periapicales, por ejemplo.
Determinants of the Number of Main Canals in a Tooth: Deciphering Potential Mechanisms
(2023) Álvarez Vásquez, José Luis; Moreno Robalino, Andrea Alejandra
Background: Although millions of root canal treatments are performed globally on a daily basis, factors that determine the number of main root canals in a tooth have not yet been elucidated. Variations in the number of root canals in different teeth is of utmost importance in clinical practice. However, clinicians aren´t aware about the determinants of such number, let alone these determinants have been approached in the literature, to the best of our knowledge. Purpose: This narrative review aimed to integrate the potential mechanisms involved in determining the number of main canals in a permanent tooth. Methods: We used the search terms “root canal number,” “root canal morphology,” “tooth morphology,” “root development,” and “root formation” to identify articles from the PubMed and Scopus databases. Results: 57 articles and 2 books were obtained. A multifactorial basis is plausible considering the influence of anthropological, demographic, environmental, genetic, epigenetic, tooth size related mechanisms and the pivotal role of Hertwig’s epithelial root sheath. Live-cell imaging techniques, mathematical models, quantitative genetics and dental phenomics could provide insightful information in the near future. Conclusions: Overall, it seems that the potential mechanisms determining the number of main canals in a tooth have a multifactorial basis. The orchestrating role of the Hertwig's epithelial root sheath seem pivotal, although the speciﬁc regulatory signals that induce or repress its diaphragmatic processes remain unknown. However, there is a dire need for molecular studies that help unveil these and other potential mechanisms involved.
Variation in the expression of insulin-like growth factor-1 in human pulp tissue according to the root-development stage
(2007) Díaz, Eduardo; Lombana Sanchez, Nelson Jose; Álvarez Vásquez, José Luis; Orozco, María Patricia; Díaz Perez, Alberto; Angel Londoño, Patricia; Caviedes Bucheli, Javier Fernando; Muñoz, Hugo Roberto
Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) plays an important role in cell proliferation and differentiation. It actively participates during odontogenesis and mineralization of dental hard tissues. The purpose of this study is to use a radioimmunoassay (RIA) to determine whether there are differences in the expression of IGF-1 in human pulp from teeth having incomplete or complete root development. Twenty-six pulp samples were obtained from freshly extracted human third molars, half of them from teeth with incomplete root development. All of the samples were processed and labeled using an IGF-1 RIA kit. Results showed IGF-1 presence in all human pulp samples with a statistically significant higher expression in pulps having complete root development. The present findings are consistent with the hypothesis that IGF-1 contributes toward forming and mineralizing dental tissues in teeth with incomplete root development as well as in pulp-repairing process in teeth with complete root development.
Epoxy resin-based root canal sealers: An integrative literature review
(2024) Álvarez Vásquez, José Luis
The correct obturation of the root canal system achieved by means of a core and a cement is essential for the success of endodontic treatment. There are several root canal cements (RCCs) on the market; however, because of their excellent characteristics, epoxy resin-based sealers (ERBSs) have been widely used. The main aim of this review was to analyze and integrate the available information on different ERBSs. An electronic search was performed in the PubMed and Scopus databases, using “epoxy resin” AND “root canal treatment”, and “epoxy resin” AND “endodontics” as search terms. In general, ERBSs have good flow properties, film thickness, solubility, dimensional stability, sealing capacity, and radiopacity. They are also able to adhere to dentin while exhibiting low toxicity and some antibacterial effects. However, their main disadvantage is the lack of bioactivity and biomineralization capability. A large number of ERBSs are available on the market, and AH Plus keeps being the gold standard RCC. Yet, information on many of them is limited or non-existent, which could be due to the fact that some of them are relatively new. The latter emphasizes the need for relevant research on the physicochemical and biological properties of some ERBSs, with the aim of supporting their clinical use with sufficient evidence via prospective and long-term studies